March 20, 2017

Meet Tracy Brown of Unlockit Locksmith & Security in Roswell and Norcross

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Brown.

Tracy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Marietta, but left the area to go to college at Auburn. After graduating, I spent a few years in Orlando working as an art director (what my college degree was for), before moving back to Marietta to be near family. A couple of years after moving back, I met the owner of Unlockit. I started doing some of the bookkeeping part time to help them out and slowly over the first few months became more and more involved in the day-to-day operations. After the office manager left the company to have a baby, I was offered the position of General Manager. I knew nothing about locksmithing before working here, but have thoroughly enjoyed each and every day! It’s such a vast industry with so much to offer. If you had asked me ten years ago where I’d be today, I’d never have guessed here. But I can’t imagine working anywhere else!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a company, our biggest challenge continues to be finding great employees. We have an amazing team right now, but it’s difficult for a small company to find good people.

Being in the industry that we are makes it even more challenging because there is so much to learn — for both technicians (which we normally train from scratch) and our office staff. Almost everyone that works here wasn’t familiar with the locksmith industry before starting here. And, on top of this, the owner and I have very high standards. We expect a lot from our employees because as a company it’s so important that we give each customer an unforgettable experience. This experience can only happen when you have employees that are engaged and really care about their job. This is a difficult trait to find, but we’ve been successful in this aspect and our customers see it.

Life is not necessarily smooth. But the bumps along the road make things interesting. And the challenges we face both as individuals and collectively as a company make us stronger and make us really appreciate the days that things go our way. I have nothing to complain about…I wouldn’t be here today without experiencing what I have in the past.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Unlockit Locksmith & Security story. Tell us more about the business.
Our customer service is what really sets us apart…not just from other locksmiths, but from most other service providers in general. We strive to give every customer the very best service — from the first phone call that they place to the follow-up call they receive after the job has been completed — and every step in between. Whether someone is just getting a key cut or they’re installing a large access control system at their business, we truly care about their experience with us.

Unlockit services both residential and commercial customers and offers much more than many traditional locksmith companies. In addition to the standard services of installing, repairing and re-keying locks, we also have developed a specialty of helping prevent break-ins. The owner has designed and developed a line of steel reinforcement products that strengthen both the door and its frame, which is effective in preventing a kick-in. It’s very rewarding to know that after installing these pieces, along with upgraded locks, on a door, it will be near impossible to kick in that door.

However, we don’t stop there. As a security company, we offer everything security-related aside from monitored alarm systems. This includes installation of access control systems, surveillance cameras, and safes.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I used to believe I was lucky. However, the older I get, the more I’ve come to realize that it’s not luck at all…its hard work and good choices. Sure, there are people that seem to have bad luck, as there are things in life that we really have no control over. But, the majority of people are where they are because of the decisions they’ve made. We’ve all heard terrible stories of the obstacles that life puts in someone’s way, but we can choose to let those obstacles stop us or make us stronger and more determined to overcome them.

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